WIMBORNE TOWN 0

DORCHESTER TOWN 0

DORCHESTER Town face a home replay with Wimborne Town after an entertaining FA Cup draw at New Cuthbury somehow ended in a stalemate.

Both sides hit the woodwork twice but Dorchester were largely the better team – especially in the first half – as missed chances heightened their frustration.

The Dorset rivals are now both in Monday’s draw for the second qualifying round, with £2,250 up for grabs for the winners on Tuesday evening at the Avenue.

Dorchester boss Glenn Howes made four changes to the side that began the 0-0 draw at Yate Town last time out.

READ MORE: Wimborne Town 0-0 Dorchester Town - how it happened

Jordi Foot, Louie Slough, Matt Neale and Jordan Ngalo all missed out, the latter through injury, while the other three took places on the bench.

Ollie Griggs, who was initially named in the starting XI before the FA intervened, served the final game of his suspension, meaning Charlie Gunson lined up against his former side.

Dorchester's bench consequently only featured five of the maximum seven players with Alfie Stanley joined by Foot, Slough, Neale and the returning Brad Snelling.

Interestingly, Exeter also permitted loanee goalkeeper Harry Lee to play, meaning that he will be cup-tied should the Grecians need him in the competition later this season.

With a number of players from both sides having previously represented their opponents, the fixture was full of niggle and intrigue from the off.

Dorchester began far the better, Olly Balmer swinging a free-kick over before the striker latched onto a booming headed clearance from Kieran Douglas.

With only home keeper Thomas Parker-Trott to beat, Balmer did all the hard work by rounding him, only for ex-Dorchester captain Ash Wells to retreat and clear his goalbound shot.

Olaf Koszela was a handful for Wimborne all afternoon and he won a corner from which Alex Moyse headed over.

Dorchester were firmly on top as the chances kept coming, Koszela curling a free-kick into the side-netting before Balmer tested the keeper from another set-piece.

Dorchester agonised in disbelief 16 minutes in when they hit the woodwork twice in a minute, Koszela nodding against the bar and Shaq Gwengwe’s follow-up blocked for another corner.

Douglas this time got up highest only to head against the near post, with the rebound falling unkindly.

Wimborne’s Wells did well to flick away a Harvey Bertrand cross for a corner and the unmarked Koszela headed over, before Gwengwe sustained a glove to the head in a challenge with Parker-Trott.

The duo were inside the area and the keeper nowhere near the ball, although referee Marc Whaley was unmoved by deafening Dorchester cries for a penalty.

Wimborne staged a rare attack on the half hour as Connal Morrison’s searching cross nearly stranded Lee, drifting behind.

Balmer hit another free-kick at Parker-Trott before the Magpies deflected a Lewis Beale header onto their own bar and away for a corner that come to nothing.

And Dorchester had a goal ruled out for Gwengwe’s barge into Parker-Trott as the Magpies could not find an elusive breakthrough.

Balmer had time to volley at Parker-Trott before half-time but Wimborne improved after the break as Keith Emmerson nipped in to dispossess Harry Morgan inside the area.

Whaley ignored a strong Wimborne appeal for handball against Douglas but Dorchester carved the greater openings.

Two more came in quick succession as Koszela was denied one-on-one and Balmer’s volley was straight at the Wimborne custodian.

Dan Bartlett worked Lee with a weak shot but Dorchester again rued their wastefulness when Emmerson punted over from six yards after Koszela’s deflected shot fell perfectly for him.

Wimborne had their own opportunities, though, and Gunson was booked for a foul on Morgan before Oakley Hanger won a corner from which Beale nodded wide when unmarked.

Hanger leathered a half-volley just over the angle and Bartlett hit another bobbler at Lee prior to the hosts passing up a glorious chance to advance.

Sub Harry Baker worked space on the right and his cross picked out fellow sub Jack Hoey, who clattered a header at goal.

Lee superbly kept the effort out but parried straight back to the winger whose left-footed follow-up clipped the outside of the post when he had the time to control and ripple the empty net.

Henry Lander headed a corner at Emmerson and Dorchester sub Stanley spun and shot at Parker-Trott as the home crowd audibly gasped amid the tense finale.

With four added minutes to play, Wimborne’s assistant Marc Gamble was sent off, apparently for changing the match ball before a throw-in was taken.

Dorchester ended on top with a corner but Emmerson’s contact took the Magpies away from goal and the recycled cross was too high for sub Jordi Foot to head at goal as the visitors were forced to settle for a replay.

Wimborne: Parker-Trott, Hanger, Morrison, Wells, Bedford, Satterley (Kellaway 86), Bartlett, Morgan, Beale (Baker 64), Roberts (Hoey 64), Lander. Subs not used: Rodwell, Burbidge, Pike, Sheehy.

Magpies: Lee, Bertrand (Foot 85), Sa, Emmerson, Buckley, Douglas, Moyse (Neale 55), Gunson, Gwengwe (Stanley 68), Koszela, Balmer. Subs not used: Snelling, Slough.

Referee: Marc Whaley

Attendance: 462